Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for September 20, in any year, each linked to its full record.
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Every event with a place, colored by kind. Tap one to open its record.
By deaths, damage and strength together, across every archive.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Maria crossed the coast as a category 4 hurricane, 135 kt (155 mph), central pressure 920 mb. It killed 4,645 people in all. S. territory of Puerto Rico, which accounted for 2,975 of the 3,059 deaths.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Maria reached its peak of 150 kt (175 mph) with a central pressure of 909 mb, a category 5 storm.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Nantou, Taichung, Taizhong, Taiwan. It killed 2,297 people, injured 8,700 and did $14 billion in damage.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Georges reached its peak of 135 kt (155 mph) with a central pressure of 937 mb, a category 4 storm.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck Enshunada Sea, Japan. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 5,000 people, destroyed 1,000 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck Enshunada Sea, Japan, with a maximum water height of 10 meters. It killed 5,000 people, destroyed 1,000 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Billion-dollar disasters
A tropical cyclone disaster that cost $29 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 119, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from September 20, 2005 to September 24, 2005.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Sultanhisar,atca,nazilli,kuyucak,denizli, Turkey. It killed 1,117 people, destroyed 7,126 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Fiona crossed the coast as a category 3 hurricane, 100 kt (115 mph), central pressure 962 mb. It killed 7 people in all, by the National Hurricane Center’s count. Hurricane Fiona was a large, powerful, and destructive tropical cyclone in mid-to-late September 2022. The storm affected many Caribbean countries, Bermuda, and Atlantic Canada.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Billion-dollar disasters
A tropical cyclone disaster that cost $12 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 16, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from September 20, 1998 to September 29, 1998.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Maria was a catastrophic category 4 hurricane which devastated the island of Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. Maximum sustained winds of 175 mph as it was approaching the county warning area.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Sichuan Province, China. It killed 200 people and destroyed 30 houses.
65 on September 20, oldest first.
On September 20, 1926, a large and deadly tornado moved through Encarnación, located in the country of Paraguay. The tornado, known as the Encarnación tornado or Encarnación cyclone of 1926, heavily damaged the town, killing up to three hundred people.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F3 tornado touched down in Keokuk County, Iowa and tracked 1 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, injuring 4.
An F3 tornado touched down in Matagorda County, Texas and tracked 1 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 7.
69 tornadoes were recorded on September 20, 1967, in Texas, Kansas, Nebraska. They killed 5 people.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lavaca County, Texas and tracked 4.3 miles, 333 yards wide at its widest, injuring 4.
An F3 tornado touched down in Jackson County, Texas and tracked 0.1 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest, injuring 3.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lavaca County, Texas and tracked 2 miles, 167 yards wide at its widest, injuring 3.
An F3 tornado touched down in Aransas County, Texas and tracked 1.5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, injuring 3.
An F3 tornado touched down in Comal County, Texas and tracked 5 miles, 67 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Austin County, Texas and tracked 19.9 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Austin County, Texas and tracked 19.9 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest.
An F1 tornado touched down in Wharton County, Texas and tracked 0.1 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1.
An F3 tornado touched down in Clay County, Iowa and tracked 1.5 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest.
A small tornado touched down briefly in open country.
Sheriff reported a tornado near Caid Lake. Many public reports of multiple tornados on the gound in the general vicinity. This tornadic thunderstorm continued moving through Burleson County.
A brief tornado lifted the roof off a mobile home, damaged homes and snapped trees and power poles.
A brief tornado touchdown was reported with numerous trees downed. At least one home sustained major damage when a large tree fell on it and a van was crushed by another fallen tree. Power poles were snapped.
A tornado touched down in an open field. No damage was reported. In addition to the tornado however, severe thunderstorms produced heavy rain and large hail. Hail was reportedly piled up 12 to 18 inches deep in spots.
An F4 tornado touched down in Greene County, Ohio and tracked 9 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 100.
Trees down in several locations across the county.
During the evening of September 20, 2000, a short-lived yet violent tornado touched down in Greene County, Ohio, and proceeded to track directly towards the town of Xenia. Moving at a forward pace exceeding 65 MPH, the tornado moved directly into the western portion of Xenia, where it would damage or destroy several homes, kill one person, and cause numerous injuries along a 9 mi (14 km) path.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thunderstorm winds downed many trees in Toledo. One of the trees landed on a moving car. The occupants of the car were unharmed. A house was also slightly damaged by a fallen tree.
A strong surge of moist and unstable air moved north into Iowa during the day on the 20th. A warm front lifted north across the state during the day as a strong upper level disturbance approached from the west and northwest.
Lightning struck an oil pump tank battery on South High, damaging the saltwater container.
An F3 tornado touched down in Monroe, Morgan, Johnson counties, Indiana and tracked 112 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, injuring 127.
One of Indiana's longest tracking tornados formed along a squall line on the morning of September 20. The tornado touched down near Ellettsville in Monroe county and then remained on the ground for 112 miles before lifting in Blackford county.
A tornado formed along a squall line in Pike county then moved across Knox and into Daviess counties. A few homes were destroyed in Knox county and several were damaged. A conservation officer in his vehicle was thrown an eighth of a mile by the tornado.
A tornado formed along a squall line. Ten single family homes sustained major damage. As the tornado passed through a trailer park, 30 trailer homes sustained major damage.
The tornado destroyed 10 mobile homes and four buildings. The greatest concentration of damage was on Highway 165 about 2 miles south of Poseyville. Peak winds were estimated around 130 MPH. Among the destroyed structures was a county highway garage.
A tornado formed along a squall line. Two mobile homes and two barns were destroyed.
Emergency management reported a tree down as a result of the wind gust.
Warm frontal boundary induced severe weather.
As Tropical Depression number 10 began to slowly organize in the Gulf of Mexico, low level rotation allowed numerous strong mesocyclones to track north over western Orange and northern Lake counties.
A mid level trough over moving over the Ohio Valley brought heavy rainfall and a few strong thunderstorms, one of which produced a weak tornado, to southern Indiana. Anywhere from three to five inches of rain fell over several hours.
Much needed heavy rain fell across the ArkLaMiss beginning on the 20th and continuing into the 21st ahead of an approaching cold front.
29 tornadoes were recorded on September 20, 2018, in Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin.
A violent outbreak of significant straight line winds, downburst winds, and multiple tornadoes occurred during the afternoon and early evening across southern Minnesota.
After morning heavy rainfall over northern Iowa, conditions cleared out for the late morning and afternoon hours ahead of an impending cold front.
A warm front lifted north across Ohio on September 20th ushering in unseasonably warm and humid weather. Scattered thunderstorms developed along the front during the middle part of the afternoon.
By the late afternoon of the 20th, a weak area of surface low pressure set up near Devils Lake, with the warm front extending out to the east-southeast. Temperatures had risen into the mid 70s to low 80s in the warm sector, with dew points in the upper 60s to lower 70s.
A line of storms rolled across western Wisconsin during the late afternoon and evening of September 20th ahead of a cold front. These storms produced an EF1 tornado that moved across rural areas of northern Trempealeau County.
A line of thunderstorms moved across southeast Minnesota during the afternoon of September 20th as a cold front moved through. These storms produced a short-lived EF0 tornado across rural Olmsted County northwest of Dover that damaged some farm buildings.
21 on September 20, oldest first.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast near Perdido Beach, AL as a category 3 hurricane, 100 kt (115 mph), central pressure 955 mb. S. Gulf Coast in September 1926, accruing a US$100 million damage toll.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast near Güines, Mayabeque, Cuba as a category 3 hurricane, 110 kt (125 mph). The September 1948 Florida hurricane (Air Weather Service designation: Easy) was the most intense tropical cyclone to make landfall in the state since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. The fourth hurricane and third major hurricane of the season, this storm developed from a tropical wave over the Caribbean Sea on September 18.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Faye reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 950 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Beulah reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 923 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Beulah crossed the coast near Starbase, TX as a category 3 hurricane, 110 kt (125 mph), central pressure 940 mb. Hurricane Beulah was an intense Category 5 hurricane which impacted the Greater Antilles, Mexico, and Texas in September 1967. The second tropical storm, second hurricane, only major hurricane, and strongest storm in the 1967 Atlantic hurricane season, Beulah tracked through the Caribbean, struck the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico as a major hurricane, and moved west-northwestward into the Gulf of Mexico, briefly becoming a Category 5 hurricane.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Bess reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 905 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Gert crossed the coast near Cerro Azul, Veracruz, Mexico as a category 2 hurricane, 85 kt (100 mph), central pressure 970 mb. Hurricane Gert was a large and deadly tropical cyclone that caused extensive flooding and mudslides throughout Central America and Mexico in September 1993. The seventh named storm and third hurricane of the annual hurricane season, Gert originated as a tropical depression from a tropical wave over the southwestern Caribbean Sea on September 14.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Juliette reached its peak of 130 kt (150 mph) with a central pressure of 930 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Georges reached its peak of 135 kt (155 mph) with a central pressure of 937 mb, a category 4 storm.
Tropical storm Harvey formed in the eastern Gulf of Mexico on September 19 and after moving toward west central Florida turned southeast and moved across the south Florida peninsula on September 21.
Remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey moved parallel along the West Central coast of Florida and produced near tropical storm force wind gusts from Tampa south to Ft. Myers during the late evening of the 20th through the early morning hours of the 21st.
Hurricane Isidore crossed the coast near Guane, Pinar del Rio, Cuba as a category 1 hurricane, 75 kt (85 mph), central pressure 964 mb. Hurricane Isidore was a powerful tropical cyclone that caused widespread flooding and heavy damage across Mexico, Cuba, and the United States in September 2002. The ninth named storm and the second hurricane in the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season, and the fifth of eight named storms to occur in September of that year, Isidore peaked as a Category 3 hurricane, causing damage, as well as four fatalities in Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, and the United States.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Roke reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph) with a central pressure of 937 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Maria crossed the coast as a category 4 hurricane, 135 kt (155 mph), central pressure 920 mb. It killed 4,645 people in all. S. territory of Puerto Rico, which accounted for 2,975 of the 3,059 deaths.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Maria reached its peak of 150 kt (175 mph) with a central pressure of 909 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Maria was a catastrophic category 4 hurricane which devastated the island of Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. Maximum sustained winds of 175 mph as it was approaching the county warning area.
Named storm Jose formed over the Tropical Atlantic, moving west and growing to become a Major Hurricane. Jose passed north of the Leeward Islands, then turned on a northward path north of the Dominican Republic.
Hurricane Fiona crossed the coast as a category 3 hurricane, 100 kt (115 mph), central pressure 962 mb. It killed 7 people in all, by the National Hurricane Center’s count. Hurricane Fiona was a large, powerful, and destructive tropical cyclone in mid-to-late September 2022. The storm affected many Caribbean countries, Bermuda, and Atlantic Canada.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The 2022 Atlantic hurricane season was a near-average yet destructive Atlantic hurricane season. Despite having an average number of named storms and a below average amount of major hurricanes, it became the fourth-costliest Atlantic hurricane season on record, behind only 2024, 2005, and 2017, mostly due to Hurricane Ian.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The 2024 Pacific typhoon season was a deadly and destructive season that became the deadliest since 2013. It was a below-average season in terms of accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) but was slightly above average in the number of named storms, typhoons, and super typhoons, ending a four-year streak of below-average seasons that began in 2020.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Polo is a very powerful tropical cyclone off the Pacific coast of Mexico. The eighteenth named storm, seventh hurricane, fifth major hurricane, and record-tying third Category 5 hurricane of the 2026 Pacific hurricane season, Polo formed on September 20 and explosively intensified into a Category 5 hurricane by September 22.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
26 on September 20, oldest first.
Heavy rains developed over much of New Mexico as tropical moisture streamed northeast from the Pacific on the 20th and 21st. Amounts ranged 2 to 4 inches during the period of 24 to 48 hours.
Heavy thunderstorm rain caused flooding of many basements.
Heavy thunderstorm rain caused flooding of many basements.
Heavy rains fell across Clay county during the evening hours. Clay Center received 4.97 inches of rain but there were public reports of as much as 6 to 7 inches south and east of Clay Center. A road east of Clay Center was flooded for a time.
Slow-moving thunderstorms dumped around 4 inches of rain in a couple hours at Murray. Street and low-lying flooding was widespread. Cars were stranded in flooded intersections, and several homes were flooded.
The Little Manatee River crested at 15.4 feet, over four feet above the flood stage of eleven feet, on the 21st. Several homes incurred water damage near 32nd and 33rd streets in Ruskin from floodwaters of the Little Manatee River.
Eight inches of rain fell during the afternoon of September 20 causing major street flooding which submerged six vehicles and caused minor flooding to 34 structures.
A severe multi-cell thunderstorm developed over southern Hall County. The storm drifted east-southeast at 15 mph and produced nickel size hail in Cee Vee in northwestern Cottle County.
One house was flooded in south Memphis. Forty-four mobile homes were damaged in Frayser. Numerous streets and several underpasses were flooded.
A historical, record, and catastrophic flood event unfolded during this period, mostly in the west central Georgia area, including the western and northwestern suburbs of Atlanta.
A strong storm system moved northeast into southeast Tennessee, producing repeat rainfall over the same area, in particular the South and West Chickamauga Creek basins. The South Chickamauga Creek reached its second highest ever recorded stage at the gage near Chickamauga, TN.
A low pressure center tracked into central Illinois by early afternoon, producing a narrow band of intense rain in parts of west central Illinois and a small part of southeast Illinois. Isolated rainfall totals of 4.00 to 5.00 inches resulted in flash flooding.
Periods of heavy rain fell between the 18th and 22nd across northeast Georgia, with the heaviest rain falling on the 20th. Stephens County was by far the most heavily affected area in the extreme northeast part of the state.
A warm and unstable air mass led to the development of slow moving thunderstorms. Many of the storms produced flash flooding, and a few produced large hail.
Periods of heavy rain fell between the 18th and 22nd across the southern mountains of North Carolina. Over the five day period, over 17 inches of rain fall in a few locations, with many areas reporting 10 inches of more.
A series of strong, wet storm systems hit Southcentral Alaska in mid-September. Each storm followed nearly the same track along the Alaska Peninsula then along the Bering Sea coast, setting up a strong moist fetch into the Southcentral Alaska.
A frontal boundary advanced toward Southwest Louisiana while deep moisture was drawn north ahead of the front. A couple of days of rain lead to higher amounts of rainfall.
A long wave trough moved into the Southern Plains during the afternoon, evening and overnight hours of September 20th.
Arewide thunderstorms produced localized flooding that resulted in metro flooding in and around the city of Houston.
On the evening of September 20th, a warm front was stretched west to east across southern Minnesota originating from a developing low pressure system across the South Dakota and Nebraska border.
On the evening of September 20th, a warm front was stretched west to east across southern Minnesota, and southern Wisconsin. The weather pattern, and associated boundaries were nearly stationary through early Thursday morning, September 22nd.
Heavy rainfall continued across portions of central and northern Iowa through mid to late September. This allowed rivers across the area to go back into flood through the latter portion of the month.
Thunderstorms with locally heavy rains moved across portions of southwest Wisconsin during the late evening of September 19th into the early morning of the 20th.
By the late afternoon of the 20th, a weak area of surface low pressure set up near Devils Lake, with the warm front extending out to the east-southeast. Temperatures had risen into the mid 70s to low 80s in the warm sector, with dew points in the upper 60s to lower 70s.
Thunderstorms developed mid-day along and ahead of a slowly advancing cold front over northwestern North Dakota in an unseasonably moist and unstable atmosphere. The storms then spread south and east through the day.
Amidst a prolonged wet and soggy period, another round of heavy rainfall over central Georgia triggered isolated flash flooding through the day on September 20th.
22 on September 20, oldest first.
Lightning struck a tree next to a home in Davis on the afternoon of September 20, 1992. The lightning jumped from the tree to the home, where it blew a five-inch diameter hole in the roof, tore siding off, blew off sheet rock on the bathroom wall, and burned up the phone lines.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
An active frontal system associated with a very strong upper level trough moved across south-central Alaska during the late evening. Thunderstorms, hail and strong winds were reported over Cook Inlet, the Susitna Valley, the Kenai Peninsula and Prince William Sound.
A cold front approached northwest Iowa in a limited moisture environment. At the same time, an upper level system traversed the state from west to east. Thunderstorms erupted over the northwest part of the state during the late afternoon and evening hours.
Hail stones up to 4 inches in diameter were carried along by strong winds and produced widespread damage to buildings and vehicles. Some livestock were injured. All aircraft parked outside of the hangars at the Rangely airport were damaged. A new glider plane was totalled.
Wind driven hail up to three-quarters of an inch in diameter decimated fields of ripening wheat as well as gardens. The siding on the west exposure of some buildings in the area were dented and had paint chipped off.
Strong outflow winds from a supercell thunderstorm were estimated to have gusts at least to 80 MPH. Most 4 by 4 foot wooden sign posts were snapped off within Rangely as well as along highway 64 and highway 139 in the Rangely area.
A squall line moved across Central Indiana producing numerous reports of tree damage and a couple reports of golfball size hail. A man was injured as he was thrown from his truck near Southport. His home also received some minor damage.
A trained spotter reported dime size hail in Trenton.
Thunderstorm winds downed two very large trees.
Trees were knocked down.
This episode of storms dealt with 4 distinct groupings. The first group of storms began near Nashua in southeast Wilkin County (MN) and tracked to the northeast. The second began near Lake Park in western Becker County (MN) and tracked to the east-northeast.
A weather disturbance combined with deep moisture and instability to produce severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hail over portions of northeast Minnesota from the afternoon hours of September 20 through midday September 21.
Scattered thunderstorms evolved into a squall line that produced primarily sporadic wind damage across portions of east central and northeast Illinois.
A woman and two men were on a 21-foot catamaran that overturned in high winds and choppy water Sunday on Lake Washington near Bellevue. The police department’s Harbor Patrol pulled the men out of the water, but the woman was trapped beneath the catamaran and drowned.
Severe thunderstorms occurred between Red Cloud and Hebron late in the afternoon on this Thursday. Throughout the morning and early afternoon, a narrow band of light rain, oriented from southwest-northeast, moved from the Nebraska panhandle eastward.
A strengthening low pressure system, combined with a very moist air mass and an upper level disturbance to produce thunderstorms. Some of the storms became severe with damaging winds that downed trees and power lines, and damaged a barn and some outbuildings.
Clusters of thunderstorms developed along the southeast South Carolina coast in the afternoon and evening hours, producing damaging wind gusts across Beaufort County.
Scattered thunderstorms moved across part of western Wisconsin during the evening of September 20th. These storms produced large hail as they tracked from northern Buffalo County into Juneau County.
A microburst caused an approximately 10-mile swatch of damage through Kosciusko County. A second microburst resulted in a 6-mile swatch of damage.
Despite abnormally dry to drought conditions across central Indiana, following two weeks with no rain for most locations; dewpoints climbing to around 70 degrees on the 20th promoted scattered evening showers and thunderstorms with embedded isolated microbursts.
Strong to severe thunderstorms developed across western Kansas during the evening of the 19th, near a surface low pressure system and frontal boundary. These storms moved east-southeast, and into northeastern Oklahoma during the early morning hours of the 20th.
1 on September 20, oldest first.
The Kolka–Karmadon rock-ice slide occurred on the northern slope of the Mount Kazbek massif in North Ossetia–Alania on the evening of 20 September 2002, following a nearly total collapse of the Kolka Glacier. It started on the north-northeast wall of Mount Jimara, 4,780 m (15,680 ft) above sea level, and seriously affected the valley of Genaldon and Karmadon.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
7 on September 20, oldest first.
A two year old girl was accidently left in a closed vehicle for two and half hours. The girl was discovered and taken to a local hospital where she died. Afternoon temperatures climbed into the middle 90s across the area that day.
An eight year old female was found dead inside a vehicle. The little girl had been left inside the vehicle all day by accident. The outside air temperature had climbed to near 90 degrees that day where the vehicle was located.
A baby girl died after being left in a car in Kingman, AZ. The high temperature was 96 degrees, and the temperature inside the car was reported to be over 100 degrees.
Hot temperatures were experienced on September 20th with high temperatures around 100 degrees in eastern Pima County. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one male found in the desert near Sahuarita.
A persistence of above normal temperatures and minimal precipitation maintained or worsened long-term drought conditions.
A persistence of above normal temperatures and minimal precipitation maintained or worsened long-term drought conditions.
Temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were near normal with Low HeatRisk. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a factor in the cause of death for 2 individuals. Heat was the primary factor for both individuals.
21 on September 20, oldest first.
The Ruby Fire started on September 20, 1987, in California, and burned 9,998 acres.
The Gully Fire started on September 20, 1987, in Nevada, and burned 7,291 acres.
The Farrow Creek Fire started on September 20, 1987, in Idaho, and burned 5,838 acres.
The Posthollow Fire started on September 20, 1987, in Utah, and burned 4,482 acres.
The House Cr Fire started on September 20, 1987, in Idaho, and burned 2,351 acres.
The Texas Basn Fire was discovered on September 20, 1994, in Idaho, and burned 1,195 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Q-Ball Fire was discovered on September 20, 1995, in New Mexico, and burned 4,300 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Mud Fire was discovered on September 20, 1996, in Nevada, and burned 1,500 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Cna Res 7 Fire was discovered on September 20, 2000, in Oklahoma, and burned 1,200 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Puddle Valley Fire was discovered on September 20, 2005, in Tooele County, Utah, and burned 3,787 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The Pine Fire was discovered on September 20, 2005, in Kern County, California, and burned 1,813 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Triangle Fire was discovered on September 20, 2005, in Owyhee County, Idaho, and burned 273 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on September 20, 2010, in Weld County, Colorado, and burned 1,000 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The South 104 Fire was discovered on September 20, 2011, in Hardeman County, Texas, and burned 3,700 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Indian Prairie Fire was discovered on September 20, 2011, in Glades County, Florida, and burned 2,300 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
Unseasonably hot temperatures, low relative humidity, and wind gusts to near 25 mph combined with dry grasses to create very high fire spread potential on the 20th. A wildfire that developed in Pittsburg County burned nearly 200 acres.
The Five Spots Fire was reported on September 20, 2021, in Comanche County, Texas, and burned 1,264 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Paddy Fay Creek Fire was reported on September 20, 2022, in Custer County, Montana, and burned 1,041 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Border Fire was reported on September 20, 2023, in Mesa County, Colorado, and burned 1,198 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The combination of warm, dry and breezy conditions created favorable conditions for fire starts and spread across southwestern Oklahoma on the 20th.
Hawk Creek Fire started on September 20 by unknown human cause. It was located 9 miles Northwest of Devenport.
17 on September 20, oldest first.
A magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck Enshunada Sea, Japan. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 5,000 people, destroyed 1,000 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Nankaido, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Corfu, Delvinon, Berati, Greece, Albania. It killed 12 people, destroyed 1,556 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
An earthquake struck Tacna, Peru.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck NW. Hokkaido Island, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Peninsula of Maina (Laconia), Greece. It killed some people (about 51 to 100). It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck Dapitan, NW Mindanao, Philippines. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Peru.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Sultanhisar,atca,nazilli,kuyucak,denizli, Turkey. It killed 1,117 people, destroyed 7,126 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Sichuan Province, China. It killed 200 people and destroyed 30 houses.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck N-Central, Papua New Guinea. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Carupano, Venezuela. It killed 3 people. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Nantou, Taichung, Taizhong, Taiwan. It killed 2,297 people, injured 8,700 and did $14 billion in damage.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Ransiki, Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indonesia.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Tokyo, Honshu, Japan. It injured 7.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Barangay Luayon, Philippines. It injured 1 and destroyed 15 houses.
9 on September 20, oldest first.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck Enshunada Sea, Japan, with a maximum water height of 10 meters. It killed 5,000 people, destroyed 1,000 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Nankaido, Japan.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck NW. Hokkaido Island, Japan.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Peloponnesus, Greece, with a maximum water height of 6 meters. It killed some people (about 51 to 100).
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck Sulu Sea, Philippines, with a maximum water height of 2 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Vanuatu Islands.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Carupano, Venezuela. It killed 3 people.
A tsunami with a source recorded as landslide struck Surprise Inlet, AK, United States, with a maximum water height of 0.04 meters.
4 on September 20, oldest first.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began September 20, 1954, reached Kp 7- and lasted 6 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 45; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 52 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began September 20, 1959, reached Kp 7 and lasted 66 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 86; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began September 20, 1967, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 36 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 85; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began September 20, 2015, reached Kp 7 and lasted 12 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 44; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
2 on September 20, oldest first.
A tropical cyclone disaster that cost $12 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 16, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from September 20, 1998 to September 29, 1998.
A tropical cyclone disaster that cost $29 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 119, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from September 20, 2005 to September 24, 2005.
11 on September 20, oldest first.
A Florida man drowned while swimming in rough surf.
Lightning struck and caused $250,000 dollars in damage to the Hernando county governments telephone and computer system in Brooksville.
Lightning struck a house, starting a fire that caused major damage to the structure. The residents, who were home at the time, were able to evacuate the home safely.
A 49 year old woman was struck and killed by lightning while standing on a soccer field. About 20 other people were knocked to the ground by the strike. Four other people were transported to a local hospital.
A lightning bolt hit the ground near three people that had stopped riding their motorcycles because of the heavy rain.
A man fishing from a canoe on Big Lake was stuck and killed by lightning.
There was a lightning fatality on a golf course.
A female was caught in a rip current off Asbury Park, New Jersey, and passed away the following day.
A 60-year-old man from Sanford, Florida drowned at Daytona Beach due to rough surf conditions.
A strong pressure gradient between high pressure over the southeast United States and a trough of low pressure over the western Caribbean enabled numerous convective showers and a few thunderstorms to produce gale-force wind gusts over an extended period from midday September 20…
A teenager drowned after being swept off the rocks at Laguna Creek Beach southeast of Davenport. A friend was also swept into the surf but was able to get out. This was the 3rd drowning near that same stretch of beach in the past 9 days.
Gathered from this site’s archives: the tornado record (NOAA SPC, and Grazulis before 1950), IBTrACS and the National Hurricane Center, NOAA NCEI’s Storm Events Database, Regional Snowfall Index, billion-dollar disasters list, State Climate Extremes Committee and hazard databases, USGS, NIFC, GFZ Potsdam’s Kp index (CC BY 4.0), the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, and Wikidata (CC0), with article leads from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0, each credited where it appears. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.